--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Apology is the most courageous gesture we…" description: "\"Apology is the most courageous gesture we can make to ourselves.\" — John Kador" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/john-kador-24864_apology_apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-w_1573213.jpg" --- # Apology is the most courageous gesture we can make to… ![“Apology is the most courageous gesture we can make to ourselves.” quote by John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/john-kador-24864_apology_apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-w_1573213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/john-kador-24864_apology_apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-w_1573213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/john-kador-24864_apology_apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-w_1573213.jpg) > “Apology is the most courageous gesture we can make to ourselves.” [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Admitting fault to oneself requires bravery and is a step toward personal growth. **In simple terms:** Apologizing to yourself is brave and helps growth. Key Takeaway Practice self‑forgiveness and honesty. Themes self‑awareness growth courage Mood thoughtful encouraging introspective Type motivational psychological self‑help When to use this quote - self‑reflection - conflict resolution - mental health Key Concepts self‑compassion psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - What does self‑apology enable in your life? - How can you turn self‑criticism into constructive change? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can hinder progress if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Gesture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gesture/) [Gestures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gestures/) ## Related quotes > [Never raise your hand menacingly, but only in a friendly gesture!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-von-la-roche/never-raise-your-hand-menacingly-but-only-in-a-friendly-gesture/) Sophie von La Roche > [Everybody uses mime and gesture in real life, though we don't realize it. It's very useful as a performance technique, though it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-daniels/everybody-uses-mime-and-gesture-in-real-life-though-we-don-t-realize/) [Anthony Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-daniels/) > [Writing is, after all, a gesture towards other people, giving something to others. And so it's not a completely hermetic exercise. It's really an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/writing-is-after-all-a-gesture-towards-other-people-giving-something/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [You should draw not what the thing looks like, not even what it is, but what it is doing... Gesture has no precise edges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimon-nicolaides/you-should-draw-not-what-the-thing-looks-like-not-even-what-it-is-but/) [Kimon Nicolaides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimon-nicolaides/) > [Turning your nose up at a genuine and sincere gesture of hospitality is no way to travel or to make friends around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/turning-your-nose-up-at-a-genuine-and-sincere-gesture-of-hospitality/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [When we speak, in gestures or signs, we fashion a real object in the world; the gesture is seen, the words and the song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-chartier/when-we-speak-in-gestures-or-signs-we-fashion-a-real-object-in-the/) [Emile Chartier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-chartier/) > [You can, when Time is ripe, swope to your feet - at your full height - at a single gesture. Ready to go where?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marita-bonner/you-can-when-time-is-ripe-swope-to-your-feet-at-your-full-height-at-a/) [Marita Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marita-bonner/) > [I've learned that in the theater the story is everything. Every lyric, every line and every musical gesture has to propel the journey of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/i-ve-learned-that-in-the-theater-the-story-is-everything-every-lyric/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [“It is only a gesture,” he said, turning back to Shadow. “But gestures mean everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/it-is-only-a-gesture-he-said-turning-back-to-shadow-but-gestures-mean/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The most shocking act, closely examined, is just a louder version of some habitual gesture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-choi/the-most-shocking-act-closely-examined-is-just-a-louder-version-of/) [Susan Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-choi/) > [There's something strange about a laptop, how you can make the tiniest gesture and make the biggest sound. I don't feel I've resolved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-meredith/there-s-something-strange-about-a-laptop-how-you-can-make-the-tiniest/) [Anna Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-meredith/) > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [All my life I have struggled to make one authentic gesture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/all-my-life-i-have-struggled-to-make-one-authentic-gesture/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. So, I have plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-art-is-an-intensely-vulnerable-gesture-and-it-is-made-with-no/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“-flashed Langdon the thumbs-up sign. Langdon smiled weakly and returned the gesture, wondering if she knew it was the ancient phallic symbol for masculine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/flashed-langdon-the-thumbs-up-sign-langdon-smiled-weakly-and-returned/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) ## More by John Kador > [When I accept an apology it means that the part in me that honors our relationship honors the part in you that honors our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/when-i-accept-an-apology-it-means-that-the-part-in-me-that-honors-our/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [Apology may be scorned, but it retains its inherent value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-may-be-scorned-but-it-retains-its-inherent-value/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > ["I would like to apologize" may sound like an apology, but it is no more an actual apology than saying "I would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/i-would-like-to-apologize-may-sound-like-an-apology-but-it-is-no-more/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [No apology is equal to the task set before it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/no-apology-is-equal-to-the-task-set-before-it/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [Progress occurs one apology at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/progress-occurs-one-apology-at-a-time/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [When we apologize we end our struggle with history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/when-we-apologize-we-end-our-struggle-with-history/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [Apologies have more power than most of us realize to restore strained relationships, free us from vengeful impulses, and create possibilities for growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apologies-have-more-power-than-most-of-us-realize-to-restore-strained/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [The purpose of apology is to extend ourselves in such a way that relationships become deeper, and life becomes richer and more human in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/the-purpose-of-apology-is-to-extend-ourselves-in-such-a-way-that/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [Apology may start as a feeling, a desire to make matters right, but it requires a commitment to move that desire into practice, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-may-start-as-a-feeling-a-desire-to-make-matters-right-but-it/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [Apology is not for the faint of heart, but then, neither is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-is-not-for-the-faint-of-heart-but-then-neither-is-life/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [We rarely wrestle with apology and lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/we-rarely-wrestle-with-apology-and-lose/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [Apology is both transactional, in that it restores what has been broken to what it was before, and transformational, in that it creates opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-is-both-transactional-in-that-it-restores-what-has-been/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [One of the most useful tasks of apology is to bring home to us how keenly, honestly, and painfully past generations pursued aims that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/one-of-the-most-useful-tasks-of-apology-is-to-bring-home-to-us-how/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [Apology sends the clearest signal that we have the strength of character to reconcile ourselves with the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-sends-the-clearest-signal-that-we-have-the-strength-of/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) > [An effective apology focuses more on compassion for the victim than redemption for the offender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/an-effective-apology-focuses-more-on-compassion-for-the-victim-than/) [John Kador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) [Explore all 24 John Kador quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/) ## More Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) Allison Pataki > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/) [Carey Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-heywood/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Apology is the most courageous gesture we can make to ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Kador" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-we-can-make-to-ourselves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-we-can-make-to-ourselves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/john-kador-24864_apology_apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-w_1573213.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/john-kador-24864_apology_apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-w_1573213.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/john-kador-24864_apology_apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-w_1573213.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Apology is the most courageous gesture we can make to ourselves.” — John Kador", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Kador", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kador/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Apology is the most courageous gesture...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-we-can-make-to-ourselves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kador/apology-is-the-most-courageous-gesture-we-can-make-to-ourselves/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```